Euphorbia plant named ‘Bonprilipcom’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia  plant named ‘Bonprilipcom’ characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong stems that resist breakage; dark green-colored leaves; inflorescences with pink-colored flower bracts; good post-production longevity; and relative tolerance to low production temperatures.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. exKlotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BONPRILIPCOM’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Title: Euphorbia Plant Named ‘Bonpridepcom’

Applicant: Andrew Bernuetz

Filed: U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/387,564.

Title: Euphorbia Plant Named ‘Bonpripapcom’

Applicant: Andrew Bernuetz

Filed: U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 12/387,561.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEuphorbia plant, an interspecific hybrid botanically known as Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Bonprilipcom’.

The new Euphorbia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra‘Bonpripicom’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.12/387,562. The new Euphorbia was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant from within a population of plants of‘Bonpripicom’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yellow Rock, NewSouth Wales, Australia in January, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Euphorbia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yellow Rock, NewSouth Wales, Australia since February, 2005, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Euphorbia plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bonprilipcom’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Bonprilipcom’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Euphorbia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Strong stems that resist breakage.    -   5. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   6. Inflorescences with pink-colored flower bracts.    -   7. Good post-production longevity.    -   8. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan,plants of the new Euphorbia differed from plants of the parent,‘Bonpripicom’, primarily in flower bract color as plants of‘Bonpripicom’ have darker-colored flower bracts.

Plants of the new Euphorbia can be compared to plants of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonpridepcom’,disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/387,564. Plantsof the new Euphorbia differ from plants of ‘Bonpridepcom’ primarily inflower bract color as plants of ‘Bonpridepcom’ have red purple-coloredflower bracts.

Plants of the new Euphorbia can be compared to plants of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonpripapcom’,disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/387,561. Plantsof the new Euphorbia differ from plants of ‘Bonpripapcom’ primarily inflower bract color as plants of ‘Bonpripapcom’ have light pink-coloredflower bracts.

Plants of the new Euphorbia can also be compared to plants of theEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Eckcory’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,849. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Euphorbiadiffered from plants of ‘Eckcory’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euphorbia were more compact and had shorter        internodes than plants of ‘Eckcory’.    -   2. Plants of the new Euphorbia had broader leaves than plants of        ‘Eckcory’.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Euphorbia had more flower        bracts than inflorescences of plants of ‘Eckcory’.    -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Euphorbia had longer and        broader flower bracts than inflorescences of plants of        ‘Eckcory’.    -   5. Inflorescences of plants of the new Euphorbia had        lighter-colored flower bracts than inflorescences of plants of        ‘Eckcory’.    -   6. Inflorescences of plants of the new Euphorbia had more        cyathia than inflorescences of plants of ‘Eckcory’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Euphorbia. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Euphorbia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Bonprilipcom’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Bonprilipcom’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and the followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in containers inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan during the autumn in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial Euphorbia production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperaturesaveraged 13° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages fortypical flowering plants. Plants were four months old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, Fourth Edition, 2001, except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex    Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonprilipcom’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Euphorbia    pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonpripicom’,    disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/387,562.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 15° C. to            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Compact and mounded plant habit;            inverted triangle; inflorescences positioned above the            foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 20.6 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about four lateral branches develop per plant;            pinching is typically not required. Length: About 9 cm.            Diameter: About 2.8 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 10 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 141B tinted with close to between 56D and            62B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B tinted            with close to 56D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A to 137B; venation, close to 145C. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;            venation, close to 145C. Petiole: Length: About 2.7 cm.            Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 145B tinted            with close to 200C. Color, lower surface: Close to 145B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound            corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the            cyathia; inflorescences positioned above the foliage.        -   Quantity of inflorescence.—One inflorescence develops per            lateral branch.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower during the            autumn and winter in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan; inflorescence            initiation and development can also be induced under            artificial long nyctoperiod/short photoperiod conditions.            Early flowering habit, plants flower about 50 days under            natural season conditions in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Euphorbia maintain good substance and            bract color for about seven weeks.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 19. Length,            largest bracts: About 7.6 cm. Width, largest bracts: About            4.2 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Aspect: Close to perpendicular to the stem axis.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing or            transitional bracts, upper surface: Between N57B and 62A;            towards the margins, close to 62D. Developing or            transitional bracts, lower surface: Close to 65D. Fully            expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 62C; towards the            margins, close to 62D; venation, close to 186A. Fully            expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 65D; venation,            close to 145A to 145C. Flower bract petiole: Length: About            1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145B.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 16. Diameter of cyathia            cluster: About 2.2 cm. Length, individual cyathium: About            6.1 mm. Width, individual cyathium: About 5.6 mm. Shape,            individual cyathium: Globose. Color: Close to 146B.            Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: One or two. Size: About 4            mm by 2 mm. Color: Close to 151B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium: Few.            Anther shape: Lanceolate or globose. Anther length: About 1            mm to 10 mm. Anther color: Close to 187B. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pistils: Plants of the new Euphorbia do not develop            pistils.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disese/pest resistance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Euphorbias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 8° C. to about    40° C.

1. A new and distinct Euphorbia plant named ‘Bonprilipcom’ asillustrated and described.